5 recent shows Netflix canceled on cliffhangers

Decisions by the streaming service sometimes leave fans in the lurch

Steve Carell as General Mark R. Naird in Netflix's show 'Space Force'
Steve Carell starred in Netflix's show 'Space Force,' which was canceled in 2022
(Image credit: Aaron Epstein / Netflix / 3 Arts Entertainment / Alamy)

Netflix, still the streaming industry leader after a decade of fierce competition, produces a dizzying array of original content. But the service has sometimes angered fans by making sudden cancellations, even of critical hits like the serial killer procedural "Mindhunter." While Netflix has never revealed the precise metrics it uses to determine a show's fate, it is likely a combination of how many viewers watch in the first 30 days and what percentage actually finish out the season. 

Earlier this spring, Netflix released the first season of science fiction epic "3 Body Problem," which was based on an award-winning Chinese book trilogy. The reception was mostly positive, but critical acclaim does not equal viewer retention. Devotees started to fear the worst before the show was renewed for additional episodes last Thursday — but there is no word on how much longer the series will continue. If yet another cancellation occurs, at least the show will be in good company. 

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David Faris

David Faris is an associate professor of political science at Roosevelt University and the author of It's Time to Fight Dirty: How Democrats Can Build a Lasting Majority in American Politics. He is a frequent contributor to Informed Comment, and his work has appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times, The Christian Science Monitor, and Indy Week.